Pope Leo Visits Remote Andes Town in Former Diocese, Addresses Community Suffering

Pope Leo XIV made a significant visit to Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, a remote Andean village in Peru, located within his former Diocese of Chiclayo. During his address, the Pope spoke about the "suffering of those who are forced to leave their homeland in search of a better future" and the "declining birth rates that are emptying villages," highlighting the threats these issues pose to communities. This visit is a key stop on the Pope's Latin America tour, occurring approximately one month after he underwent surgery for lung cancer.

Highlights

• Pope Leo XIV visited Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, a remote village in Peru's Andes mountains, part of his former Diocese of Chiclayo.
• He addressed issues such as forced migration, declining birth rates, and the unequal distribution of resources.
• Over 40% of the population in the Cajamarca region, where the town is located, lives in poverty.
• The visit is part of the Pope's first Latin America tour since his lung cancer surgery.
• Despite the town's population of 6,000, the Vatican reported a crowd of about 20,000 people.

Details

Pope Leo XIV served as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023, during which time he frequently visited Santa Cruz de Succhabamba. The local community, who knew him as 'Father Robert,' greeted him with immense enthusiasm upon his return. Arriving by helicopter, the Pope later toured the area in a popemobile, waving to the crowds.

The Cajamarca region, home to Santa Cruz, has the highest poverty rate in Peru, exceeding 40%. It has also experienced significant internal migration, with 729,000 people born there now residing elsewhere in Peru. In his sermon, the Pope encouraged the community not to lose heart despite life's difficulties.

Why it matters

This visit by Pope Leo XIV holds both personal significance, given his Peruvian citizenship and long-standing ties to the country, and broader importance for the Catholic Church's focus on global issues like migration, poverty, and demographic shifts. Coming after his lung surgery, the tour also signals the Pope's improving health and his continued commitment to his pontifical duties.